The Iroquois Steeplechase will host a cigar and bourbon tasting at Franklin Cigar, in partnership with its neighboring Franklin business Carothers Wine and Spirits, to benefit our membership group, the Iroquois Alliance, on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.

The public is invited to purchase tickets to the festive holiday affair, which will be held in Franklin Cigar’s private smoking lounge. Each ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, two cigars and bourbon tastings provided by Carothers Wine and Spirits. The tastings will begin at 6:30 p.m., and guests are encouraged to arrive early to socialize and network. Dave Pearse, owner of Franklin Cigar and Justin Wilson of Carothers Wine and Spirits will be in attendance to engage in informative discussions of the different varieties of cigars and bourbons with those who are interested.

Event attendees will receive 10% off cigar, liquor or beer purchases made that night (a few exclusions apply.) A portion of the evening’s ticket sales and proceeds will benefit the Iroquois Alliance, which was formed in 2010 as a means for patrons to contribute to the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation’s mission to promote the sport of steeplechasing, while also raising funds and awareness for the several deserving organizations the Iroquois Steeplechase supports.

Membership benefits of the Iroquois Alliance include invitations to exclusive social and networking events; discounted tickets to events such as the Cigar and Bourbon Tasting; and volunteer opportunities on race day and throughout the year.

For the first time ever, the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation will allow longtime patrons and newcomers alike to purchase significantly discounted tickets for the 2017 Iroquois Steeplechase, to be held on Saturday, May 13 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. The sale, which will run from Black Friday, Nov. 25 through Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, will offer three types of tickets at a reduced rate for five days only, and quantities of certain tickets are limited.

Libby Cheek, Executive Director for the Iroquois Steeplechase, says the nonprofit elected to run this sale as a way to give back to the Nashville community and to support the organization’s efforts to promote the sport of Steeplechasing. Proceeds from the event have generated more than $10 million for beneficiaries including Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“Though it is a one-day event, the Iroquois Steeplechase works year-round to support Children’s Hospital and other organizations in various ways, and our ticket sales are a huge part of that,” Cheek said. “That’s why we want to continue the sale through Giving Tuesday -- an internationally recognized day dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and events like ours -- in an effort to emphasize the cause and the contribution.”

Affectionately called “Nashville’s Rite of Spring since 1941,” the Iroquois Steeplechase attracts more than 25,000 spectators annually, a large number of whom arrive dressed to the nines to take part in the tailgating experience in the race grounds’ infield. The infield is divided into six areas -- Centerfield, Midfield, The Stretch, Topside, The Turn and The Meadows -- and each 13’ x 18’ tailgating space (with the exception of The Meadows, where spaces are 20’ x 27’) includes armbands for eight people and two parking passes. During the post-Thanksgiving sale only, all tailgating spaces that were not sold last year will be $300 apiece -- half off of the regular price of $600.

A second ticket option that will be discounted as part of the sale is individual infield tickets, which enable racegoers to access all the infield’s tailgating areas without having to be part of a tailgating space. This option to purchase individual tickets was introduced in recent years to accommodate the influx of newcomers to the city who wanted to attend the race but were not able to get tickets without being invited by a tailgating space holder. Infield tickets are regularly sold for $85 apiece but will be marked down to $50 for the five-day sale.

Due to great popularity of several all-inclusive tents in other areas of the race grounds, the Iroquois Steeplechase will introduce a new social tent in the infield for 2017. Located in the middle of the infield, the Fox Den is an all-inclusive, add-on option for adult racegoers to enjoy food, beverages and entertainment from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and can be purchased by anyone who has bought a tailgating space or infield ticket and box holders. Tickets to the Fox Den will cost $75 apiece, but as a special presale offer to coincide with the announcement of the new area, they will be sold for $50 from Black Friday through Giving Tuesday.

Additionally, anyone who purchases a ticket to the Fox Den during the five-day sale can also purchase a parking space in Lot M, conveniently located near the infield, for $25.

“We have seen the demand for all-inclusive tents grow year after year, and we decided the infield deserved its own area for people to have food and drink without having to bring it in themselves,” Cheek said. “We have no doubt that the Fox Den will be the hub of the infield and expect it will be as popular an area as our other social tents are.”

Irvin S. Naylor’s Rawnaq (Ire) {Azamour {Ire}) has won his three starts over fences this year, banked $360,000, and is a virtual shoo-in for this year’s Eclipse Award as champion steeplechase horse.

Two of his wins have been in the year’s richest and toughest races, the GI $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois in Nashville last May and last Saturday’s GI $350,000 Grand National at the Far Hills Races in New Jersey.

He is all but assured the National Steeplechase Association earnings title with an advantage of more than $140,000 over his closest competitor, Grand National second finisher Scorpiancer (Ire) {Scorpion {Ire}).

Under other circumstances, the 2015 import might be entitled to a turnout at Naylor’s Maryland farm. But the 9-year-old has more work ahead.

The ultimate goal lies across the Atlantic Ocean at storied Cheltenham Race Course on Mar. 16 for the G1 Ryanair World Hurdle. Brown Advisory, with offices in both the U.S. and UK, has offered a $500,000 bonus to any horse that can win the World Hurdle and Iroquois, both three-mile races, in the same 12-month period.

The Iroquois Steeplechase, Nashville’s annual rite of spring since 1941, is accepting submissions through Sept. 23 from equestrian artists who are interested in becoming the event’s Featured Artist for 2017.

Each year, the Iroquois Steeplechase, under the direction of the non-profit 501c3 organization the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation, selects an artist to create a piece that captures and conveys the spirited sport of steeplechasing. The artwork is used throughout the year to promote the event, which is always held the second Saturday of each May, and is auctioned off the night before the race to support the organization’s primary beneficiary, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“The selection of the Featured Artist is a tradition that we look forward to every year,” said Libby Cheek, Executive Director of the Iroquois Steeplechase. “We have chosen oil paintings that are as detailed as photographs and other pieces that are more abstract. The guidelines are loose to encourage creativity.”

Hollie Berry of Chattanooga, Tenn. was named the 2016 Featured Artist, and used oil on wood panel to create “Endurance,” a painting depicting a group of vibrantly colored jockey-mounted horses jumping over a fence.

“We will consider any and all submissions,” said Cheek. “This is a terrific opportunity for local artists to receive exposure, and we are always amazed at the talent we have the privilege to review.”

The Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation will review submissions received through Friday, Sept. 23. Those interested should email Libby Cheek herewith a brief bio and work samples. After the Featured Artist is selected, the Foundation will establish a deadline for when the artwork should be completed so that it can be revealed to the public.

Tickets, tailgating spaces, VIP areas and more are now available for the 2017 Iroquois Steeplechase on May 13. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Owners, trainers, sponsors, and sporting fans gathered at the Steeplechase Barn Thursday morning for the traditional post position drawing and breakfast, sponsored by FarmVet. Enthusiasts of the sport mingled and soaked in the beauty of the morning at Percy Warner Park as the post positions for each of Saturday's seven races were drawn from a leather bag.

Ireland-based champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins is sending at least one and possibly two contenders to Nashville for the American leg of the million-dollar Brown Advisory Iroquois-Cheltenham Challenge.

The winner of both the $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1) and the Ryanair World Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse in England next March would win approximately $1 million, including the $500,000 Challenge bonus.

Mullins, champion jumps trainer for the past nine years, has nominated Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill to the three-mile race over National Fences at Percy Warner Park on Saturday, May 14. Expected to ride Nichols Bay is champion jockey Ruby Walsh.

The Iroquois Steeplechase will enjoy 75 years on May 14, celebrating more than seven decades of Music City’s annual celebration of time-honored traditions, Tennessee hospitality and Southern fashions. Held the second Saturday of May each year at Percy Warner Park, the event attracts more than 25,000 spectators to watch the best horses and riders in the world race over hurdles on a three-mile turf track.

Though the scene is packed with excitement and buzzing with excited guests, there’s no shortage of options where those tens of thousands of people can enjoy the races. Fans have as many options as ever to plant their seat, including the following availabilities for 2016 (as of April 1, 2016):